Switch



Feb. 11, 1941.

w. E. PALMER 2,231,218

SWITCH Filed Feb. 13. 1939 Q C ff J l@ l@ af' Patented Feb. 11, 1941 PATENT OFFICE SWITCH Walter AE. Palmer, Cicero, Ill., assignor of onethird to J. H. Jochum, Jr., Chicago, Ill.

Application February 13, 1939, Serial No. 256,042

Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in switch devices for controlling electric circuits, particularly adapted, though not necessarily limited in use for controlling the operation of elec- 5 tric heating appliances, such -for example as heating units of electric stoves, and one of .the objects of the invention is to provide an improved switch of this .character for selectively controlling several circuits.

Heretofore it has been .customary in switches of this general character to .provide individual make and break devices embodying a plurality of relatively expensive contact points for the respective circuits, and since it is necessary to make .the closing of the circuits positive by means of individual spring pressure it is also necessary to provide a number of relatively expensive springs for that purpose.

In order to overcome these diiilculties and objections it is another object of the present invention to provide an improved switch in which a plurality oi circuits may be selectively controlled by a common make and break device. and in which switch the number of contact points and springs are materially reduced, and to aminimum.

A further object is to provide an improved switch device oi this character in which a. single spring is employed to create the necessary pressure at the various contact points, and which spring will also serve the purpose of assisting in completing the movement of the switch device after the operator has started to move the same.

A further object is to, provide in an improved switch of this character means whereby all of the connections except the necessary one to complete a predetermined circuit will bemade While the switch handle or button is being turned to a prestructed oi.' any special material, thereby matei rially reducing the cost of manufacture.

To the attainment of these ends and the accomplishment of other new and useful objects 55 as will appear, the invention consists in the fea- (Cl. o- 7) line 3--3 Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows. I

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 4--4 Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 5-5 Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a wiring diagram.

Referring more particularly Ito the drawing, the numeral I0 designates a supporting base projecting above which are uprights II constructed of any suitable material and these uprights support a contact bearing member I2 and if desired, an upper member I3 may also be supported by the uprights in close proximity to the member I2.

These members l2 and I3 m-ay be formed of any suitable material either separately or may be formed as an integral structure.

The member I2 carries a plurality of series of contacts designated generally by the reference numeral I4 arranged in any suitable manner in the member I3 t'o project therethrough, and also extending through the member I2 is a shaft I5 to which an operating handle I6 is connected and by means of which handle lthe shafft I5 may be rotated.

Supported by the base I0 is a contact or terminal Il which may be heldin position by means of a screw II-A passing through a bushing Il-B in the base Il). This terminal is connectedor included in one side of a circuit I8, and co-operating with this contact is another contact I9 supported by a spring arm or member 20 which is anchored at one end, as at 2|. To this spring contact 20 is connected one side of a supply line 22. The other side 23 of Ithe supply line is connected with one of the sets of contacts I4, and the contacts I4 are connected to the other side of the line circuit I8.

The line 24 constitutes the other side oi.' the line I8.

Abreaker member 25 is pivotally supported intermediate its ends as at 26 by the shaft I5, and carried by the respective ends of the breaker member 25 are contacts 21-28 pivotally supported by the breaker member, as at 29, so as to permit .the contacts 2 to rock with respect to the breaker member and thereby insure a proper positioning of these elements 21-28 with relation to the respective contacts I4 to insure a good connection.

The contacts I4 are preferably arranged in pairs and the contact members 21-28 are adapted to stand asti-ide of the contacts of` each pair, as the breaker member 25 is rotated by Ithe shaft I5.

Carried by the spring or breaker member 20 is an element 30 secured in position in any suitable manner and the upper face thereof is undulated, as at 3I, the element 30 being preferably provided with an opening 32 therein to receive the end of Kthe shaft I5.

A member 33 is also secured to the shaft I5 for rotation therewith and the lower face of this member 33 is undulated, as at 34. The undulated faces of the members 30 and 33 are disposed in proximity to each other so that when the shaft I5 is rotated the undulated surfaces 3| and 34 of the respective members 3U and 33 will cause the members 3U and 33 to be separated temporarily and during such separation, the spring contact or breaker member 20 will be flexed causing a portion thereof to be moved into engagement with a fulcrum 35 that is supported by the base I0 and disposed in' proximity to the contact I'I.

Normally the contact or ybreaker member 20, when the contacts I'I and I9 are closed or in engagement with each other, will be out of engagement with the fulcrum 35 but when the shaft I5 is rotated to cause the parts to assume the position shown in Figure 2 a portion of the breaker member 20 will be moved into engagement with and will be moved about the fulcrum 35 to cause the contact members I'I and I9 to be separated. y

The normal tendency of the spring contact 20 is to move the breaker member 25 toward the contact supporting member I2 to force the contacts 21-28 into engagement with the respective contacts or terminals I4 and hold them in engagement under spring pressure.

When the shaft I5 is rst rotated or in the position shown in Figure 4 the undulated surfaces 3| and 34 of the elements 30 and 33 will be caused to move in the position shown in Figure 2 and the contact I9 will be moved out of engagement with the contact II. The parts will remain in this position during a portion of the rotation of the shaft I5 or until the parts assume the position shown in Figure 2.

Upon further rotation of the shaft I5 in the same direction the spring breaker member 20 will assist in turning the shaft I5 and in properly positioning the breaker member 25 by reason of the fact that the resiliency of the breaker member 20 forcing the inclined portions of the undulated surfaces together thereby assisting in rotating the shaft I5. This movement Will be in the nature of a snap movement.

As soon as the members 30 and 33 assume the position shown in Figure 4 the breaker member 20 will move out of contact with the fulcrum 35.

This movement of the breaker member 20 out of engagement with the fulcrum 35 and the movement of the contact I9 in engagement with the contact I'I will not be effected until after the breaker member 25 has assumed a predetermined position to complete the respective circuits through the contacts I4.

The breaker member 2U will not be moved into engagement with the fulcrum 35 upon rotation of the shaft I5 until after the contacts 21-28 have broken or interrupted the circuit through the contacts I4.

It will therefore be manifest that there will be no arcing at the contacts I4 as the nal connection will be made by the contacts I9 and II and these contacts will be the only contacts carrying a current while the breaker member 25 is being positioned to complete or interrupt the predetermined circuits through the contacts I4.

The elements 30 and 33 as well as the fulcrum 35 may be constructed of any suitable insulating material and the breaker member 25 may also be constructed of anyy suitablev insulating material.

Obviously any suitable indicating means (not shown) may be provided to (zo-operate with the handle I5 to indicate the position of the breaker member 25 `and the circuits through the contacts I4 which are to be completed.

' With this improved construction is will be manifest that the breaker member 20 serves two functions, one of which is to complete the main circuit to supply current to the device, and the other is as a spring for holding the contacts 21--28 against the contacts I4 under spring pressure, and also to assist in rotating the breaker member 25, as well as to hold the contacts I9 and II in engagement.

The wiring diagram illustrates the method of using one form of the switch lto control a heating unit embodying two resistances A and B, so that the unit will produce heat at different rates. The different rates of heat are obtained by impressing potentials of either volts or 230 volts from the power supply lines across either one of the resistances, both of the resistances in series, or both of the resistances in parallel.

For example, if the resistance of the element A is 39.92I ohms, and the resistance of the element B is 78.43 ohms, the unit will produce heat at the rate of 112 watts.

It is well understood that electric power for heating pulposes is generally supplied over three Wires or lines, two of which (C and D in the diagram) are at a relative difference of 230 volts with respect to each other, and each of which is at a relative difference of potentials of 115 volts with respect to the third wire E in the diagram.

The pairs of contacts I4 are respectively indicated in the wiring diagram by the numerals 38-39, 40-4I, 42-43, 44-45, 46-41, 48-49, SII-5I, 52-53, 54-55, 56-51 and 58-59.

To impress a potential of 115 volts across the resistances A and B in series at a rate of 112 watts. the contacts 35-31 as well as the contacts 38-39 are closed.

lIhe closed circuit may then be traced from the line C through the contacts 36-3'I, through conductor 60, through the heating element A, conductor GI, through the heating element B, conductor 62, through the contact 5l, conductor B8, through the contact 4I, conductor E3, contact 39, contact 38, conductor 54 back to the line E.

Other examples of the use of the switch are as follows: To impress a potential of 115 volts on the element B at a rate of 169 watts, contacts 40 and 4I are closed and also contacts 5B and 59 as well as the contacts :I6- 31.

The circuit when the parts are in this position may be traced from the line C through the contacts 36-31, conductor 60, conductor 65, con- 'ductor 66, contact 52, conductor 66-A, contact 58, contact 59, conductor 61, conductor 6I, through the element B, to conductor 62, contact .51, conductor 68, contact 4I, contact 40, conductor 1I, conductor 64 and back to the line E.

To impress volts on the element A at the rate of 331 watts, contacts 36-'31 and contacts 42-43 are closed.

The circuit may then be traced as follows: from the line C,'contacts 315-31, conductor 60, element A, conductor 61, conductor 69, through contact 45, conductor 10, contact 42, contact 43, conductor 14, contact 40, conductor 1l, conductor 64, back to the line E. y'

To impress a potential of 115 volts on the elements A and B in parallel at the rate of 500 watts, contacts 36--31, 44--45 and 52--53 are closed.

The circuit may then be traced from the line C through the contacts 36-31, line 60, element A, conductor 61, conductor 69, conductor 10, contact 45, contact 44, conductor 13, contact 43, conductor 14, contact 40, conductor 1I, conductor 64 back to the line E.

With the elements A and B in parallel the circuit may also be traced from the line C, contacts 36-31, conductor 60, conductor 65, conductor 66, contact 52, contact 53, conductor 12, contact 39, conductor 63, contact 4I, conductor 68, contact 51, conductor 62, through the element B, conductor 6I, to the conductor 61, through conductor 69, to conductor 16, contact 45, contact 44, conductor 13, contact 43conductor 14, contact 40, conductor 1I, conductor 64, back to the line E.

To impress a potential of 230 volts on the element B at the rate of 675 watts the contacts 36--31, 46-41 and 54-55 are closed.

The circuit may then be traced from thel line C, contacts 36-31, conductor 60, conductor 65, contact 54, contact 55, conductor 61, conductor 6I, through the element B, conductor 62, contact 41, contact 46, conductor 15, conductor 16, conductor 11, to line D.

To impress a potential of 230 volts on the element A at a rate of 1325 watts, the contacts 36--31, and 48-49 are closed.

The circuit may `then be traced from the line C, contacts 36-31, conductor 60, element A, conductor 61, conductor 18, contact 49, Contact 48, conductor 15, through contact 46, conductor 16, conductor 11, back to the line D.

To impress a potential of 230 volts on the elements A and B in parallel at the rate of 2,000 watts, the contacts 36-31, 50-5I and 56-51 are closed.

The circuits may then be traced from the line C, contacts 36-31, conductor 60, element A, conductor 61, conductor 19, contact 5I), contact 5I, conductor 15, conductor 16, conductor 11 back to the line D; and in parallel from the line C through the contacts 36-31, conductor 60, conductor 65, contacts 56, contact 51, conductor 62, through the element B, conductor 6I, conductor 61, conductor 19, contact 50, contact 5I, conductor 15, conductor 16, conductor 11, back to the line D.

It will therefore be manifest from the circuits which have been thus traced, the switch may be set to any predetermined position so as to impress a voltage upon either of the elements A and B separately; in parallel; or in series, and that in each instance the breaker member 25 will be set with respect to the predetermined contacts (generally referred to as the contacts I4) before the contacts I1 and I9 are brought together to complete the circuit.

Similarly before the breaker member 25 is moved to interrupt the circuit through the respective pairs of contacts I4, the contacts I1 and I9 will be'l separated to interrupt the main line supply.

It will, also be manifest that with this improved construction only one spring is employed and this spring serves several functions, that is, as one of the breaker members, and also as a means for not only assisting in positioning the breaker member 25 after the operator has started to move the latter, but also serves the function of exerting the necessary spring pressure upon the breaker member 25 -and the contacts 28-29 carried thereby to insure the proper spring pressure to hold them against the respective pairs of contacts I4.

While the preferred form of the invention has been herein shown and described, it is to be understood that various changes may be made in the details of construction, and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, within the scope of the claims, Without departing from the spirit of this invention.

What is claimed as new is: Y

1. A switch device embodying a flexible breaker member for a main supply circuit having inherent resiliency, a plurality of Contact terminals separate from said circuit for a plurality of circuits to be controlled, a breaker member for connecting terminals of predetermined circuits, means embodying a shaft for selectively positioning the last said breaker member With respect to said contact terminals, means connecting the last said breaker member to the shaft for pivotal movement with respect thereto on'an axis transversev to the axis of the shaft, contact members adapted to engage said terminals, means mounting the contact members upon the last said breaker member for pivotal movement with respect thereto, and means connected with said shaft and operating to flex the first said breaker member to interrupt the main circuit, the said breaker'member also supplying pressure to the contact members against their terminals.

2. A switch device embodying-a exible breaker member for a main supply circuit, a plurality of contact terminals separate from said circuit for a plurality of circuits to be controlled, a breaker member for connecting terminals of predetermined circuits, means embodying a shaft for selectively positioning the last said breaker member with respect to said contact terminals, means connecting the last said breaker member to the shaft for pivotal movement with respect thereto on an axis transverse to the axis of the shaft, contact members adapted to engage said terminals, means mounting the contact members upon the last said breaker member for pivotal movement With respect thereto, a fixed fulcrum engaged by a portion of the first recited breaker member, and means connected with said shaft and operating upon the first recited breaker member to flex and cause the latter to move about said fulcrum to interrupt the main supply circuit and to supply pressure at all times to said contact members against their terminals.

3. A switch embodying a resilient breaker member for a main line, a fulcrum to be engagea by said member intermediate the ends of the latter, a selector breaker member, a cam device connected with said selector breaker member, operable upon said resilient breaker member, and cooperating with said fulcrum to cause the last said breaker member to move upon and about the fulcrum in opening and closing the main line circuit, and means mounting the selector breaker member for pivotal movement in a plane transverse to the plane of its selective positioning movement, the said resilient breaker member also operating t supply pressure at all times to the selector member against its contact terminals.

4. A switch embodying a plurality of pairs of contact terminals to be included in a plurality of circuits to be controlled, a breaker member for connecting terminals of predetermined circuits, a shaft to which said breaker member is pivotally mounted intermediate the ends of the latter, means for rotating the shaft to selectively position said breaker member with respect to said terminals, a resilient breaker member for a main line, and co-operating formations on said shaft and the last recited breaker member, whereby upon rotation of said shaft the main line circuit will be opened in advance of the opening of the respective said circuits to be controlled, and will also be closed subsequent to the closing of the respective said circuits to be controlled, said resillent breaker member also operating to supply pressure at all times to the ilrst said breaker member against its contacts.

5. A switch embodying a plurality of pairs of contact terminals to be included in a plurality of circuits to be controlled, a breaker member for connecting terminals of predetermined circuits, a shaft 'to which said breaker member is pivotally mounted intermediate the ends of the latter, means for rotating the shaft to selectively position said breaker member with respect to said terminals, a resilient breaker member for a main line, a fulcrum to be engaged by the last recited breaker intermediate the ends of the latter, and co-operating formations on said shaft and the last recited breaker member whereby upon rotation of said shaft the last said breaker member will be placed under tension and be caused to moved upon and aboubsaid fulcrum to open the main line circuit in advance of the closing of the respective circuit to be controlled, and to close the main linevcircuit subsequent to the closing of the respective said controlled circuit, said resilient breaker member also operating to supply pressure at all times to the said breaker member and against its contacts.

WALTER E. PALMER. 

